Monday, March 31, 2008

I've been looking at these sequins for 6 months, thinking that they'd make cool jewelry. Today, I finally sat down and did something with them!

Here's what you need to make your own -

1 pkg of the above sequins, available in my Etsy shop. One package should make 2 bracelets.

1 clasp - I used a silver snap clasp for ease of use.

Jump Rings - I used 7 (seven) 6mm jump rings.

Pliers for opening jump rings

How to make it -

Using your pliers, open a jump ring. Link two donut sequins, through the small holes along the edge, using a jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Open another jump ring. Connect another sequin to the chain of two you've started. Close jump ring. Repeat until bracelet reaches your desired length. I used 6 sequins.

Once your bracelet reaches your desired length, open another jump ring. Use this to connect your clasp to one end of the sequin chain. Repeat with the opposite side of the clasp and other end of the sequin chain.

Voila! You have a very cool, very bold, very lightweight bracelet!

Make sure that you don't have a twist in the sequin chain. If this happens, simply open one jumpring and untwist the chain. This may happen when you add the clasp.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

After the Etsy Storque interview with Vanna White, 'special deal' with Lion Brand yarn, and subsequent fallout on the forums, I had to see what the fuss was about. So, down to the local big box store I went, as the independent stores in my area don't carry Lion Brand. After checking out the yarn, I was not impressed. It's an inexpensive, lower end acrylic worsted weight yarn. However, this trek got me thinking...Why is it that we choose to support big box stores? Personally, I prefer to go to a smaller, more specialized store even if costs more. I try to keep my dollars in the community. Unfortunately, the smaller stores don't always make that possible. Recently, I was on the hunt for a 1 inch circle punch for some glass marble magnets I was planning to make. After stops at four different scrapbook stores (and a few other impulse purchases!), I ended up at the large hobby box store. I felt totally defeated! This experience left me with the belief that the small independent stores will NOT have what I need, so why bother looking there? I can't believe that I'm the only one in a fairly large area that feels this way, either. Unfortunately, that is the setup for failure of a shop.

Friday, March 21, 2008

For some reason, I find myself completely attracted to sherbet bright colors. I can hardly pass anything that's orange or lime green without inspecting it! Perhaps I'm longing for warm, sunny days after this oh so dreary winter.

If you find yourself in the same predicament, here's a collection of items for you. Top to bottom, they include Sherbet Chic Specialty Fibers, Sherbet Chic printed paper pack, and Sherbet Garden fabric IT kit. The fabric IT kits are available in both Mini and standard sizes.